AS CORRO'S CAMP PREPARES TO TAKE OVER: Shimura, Loot to question decision of Comelec

CEBU, Philippines - More than 1,000 supporters of Augusto Corro and Dr. Jose De Leon gathered yesterday afternoon in Barangay Poblacion, Daanbantayan as they are prepare for the assumption of office of the two, who are recently declared winners by the Commission on Elections during the 2007 elections for mayor and vice mayor of the town.

The camp of Corro and De Leon had called a meeting with their supporters to inform them of the decision of the Comelec First Division which dismissed the instant joint petition for certiorari filed by Mayor Sun Shimura and his mother Vice Mayor Maria Luisa Loot questioning the order of the Regional Trial Court in Bogo City declaring the former as the elected mayor and vice mayor of Daanbantayan.

“Wala na gayud makababag sa ato unyang paglingkod diha sa munisipyo karong sunod semana, wala na’y mahimo ang kampo ni Malou Loot,” Corro told his supporters.

However, the other camp clarified reports that there is no more legal obstacle or impediment for the intended take over by Corro and de Leon.

“It is incorrect to assume and declare, for whatever misguided purpose, that with the Joint Resolution of the Comelec First Division dated February 17, which in essence merely lifted the writ of injunction earlier issued, the Comelec has affirmed their victory in the last 2007 local and national elections,” said Atty. Delon Richel Urot, Shimura and Loot’s legal counsel.

In a press statement, Urot clarified that under Comelec rules, they have five days from the receipt of the Joint Resolution of the Comelec to file a motion for reconsideration and elevate the matter to the Comelec en banc.

“Since we officially receive the joint resolution only on February 19, we have until Wednesday, February 24, to file the same. We will not wait for the deadline and we are preparing the motion which we will file tomorrow at the earliest or Tuesday at the latest this week,” Urot explained.

He said that the lifting of the injunction issued is part of the joint resolution or judgment of the Comelec, therefore it is still subject to the motion for reconsideration which they intend to file.

“Being so, it is not yet final and executory. We thus caution the court of origin from issuing any writ of execution, especially upon prodding of their camp, as there is still legal process to be observed.”

“The legal process must be respected and observed,” Urot stressed.

Be Calm

As the tension in Daanbantayan starts to boil, Corro appealed to his supporters to be calm even if they expect Shimura and Loot’s camp to intimidate them to create trouble, citing the presence of the police and the military in the town.

He suspects that the presence of the police and military are not meant to protect the people but to harass them knowing the influence of Loot’s husband, Senior Supt. Vicente Loot in the police force.

The camp of Corro had earlier requested for the transfer of Senior Supt. Loot outside the Police Regional Office-7 so he could not influence the police and people of the fourth district to side with his wife, who is running as mayor of Daanbantayan in the May elections.

Meanwhile, De Leon said that the decision of the Comelec proved that the truth will really prevail.

“Migawas na gayud ang kamatuoran, migawas na gayud nga mananaug ang katawhan sa lungsod sa Daanbantayan,” he said.

Daanbantayan municipal councilor Gilbert Arrabis said that knowing the style of the Loots, they expect the latter to create a scenario to create trouble in the town.

Daanbantayan police chief Laurel Almirante however strongly denied the accusations of Corro’s camp that they were used by the Loots to harass them.

Almirante said that presence of the military and the Special Reaction Unit of the Cebu Provincial Police Office is meant to augment the town policemen.

The police chief said they conducted random checkpoints to make sure that any plan to create trouble in Daanbantayan will be prevented. He clarified these are not meant to harass the supporters of Corro.

Almirante explained the augmentation forces are there to ensure the peace and order as political conflict may erupt between the two opposing parties.

Shimura told reporters that they are putting barricades at the municipal hall in order to protect the municipal government properties and denied accusations that they want to create trouble by using the military and the police. — Jose P. Sollano and Jessica Ann R. Pareja/WAB    (FREEMAN NEWS)